Despite the fact that Blaz Furdi is seemingly staying, Team Festina has expressed a high interest in loaning him with interest in developping the rider aswell as having him as a main helper in the ardennes for 2014 Pro Tour.
We were looking at maxing him ourselves using a GT wildcard. But a PT loan is also a possibility if it involves us getting a rider of similar quality back. Otherwise it would be an unnecessary loss of competitiveness. Let's discuss this come transfer season.
Furdi won't be able to max out with a GT wildcard. That would only put him at 4.62, so still another GT away from 4.100.
Loaning him to PT is the only way of getting him there this season.
I meant GT wildcard + HC races. But I do now see that I misread the XP table; I thought HC races gave 1 XP. At 0,5 it will be impossible indeed. Thanks.
Minnard, the tour-winning domestique, has become a fan favourite. We'd get lynched if we sold him.
We like Westra; he's a strong Dutch rider on a reasonable wage who is not easy to replace.
Weening was never brilliant but extremely consistent, getting him to second place in the 2013 individual CT rankings. He accepted a 100k wage cut after declining a bit and I think he'll be suited to the role of PCT lieutenant.
We liked Furdi's clever racing in 2013 a lot and he still has room to improve. This season he'll be able to gain power and experience in a PT support role. In 2015 he should be one of our key riders.
Hofland is a talent from our main country and can be a great rider for us next year. To reach that level he needs some PT experience.
Attention CT managers! 26 year old Brazilian Nardin was 6th in the 2013 individual CT rankings and one of the most cost efficient riders in the game. The reason I'm open to selling him is that he is perfect for C2 races and I would like to see him shine there again. This guy can single-handedly make your season, so I do expect a good transfer fee.
Venter is talented and can still grow a lot. The rest are strong low wage domestiques.
We have an extensive short list ready for the upcoming transfer season, which we're obviously not going to release. We will, however, post the names of some well known riders we are interested in who are currently under contract. We'll contact their managers during the transfer season and hope the riders are not sold before we have the time to do so.
@LLS Loaning out Nardin wouldn't make sense for us. It's either keep or sell. Nardin is great in any C2 race/stage that is rated flat but has some bumps near the finish. The high speed over those bumps in the finale tires the regular sprinters, allowing him to outsprint them. And if he's high in the GC thanks to doing well in sprints, it's hard to drop him in the hills.
@alex Hehe, you're just as devious as your avatar.
Blaž went on loan to gain experience at ProTour level. Next season he'll be one of our leaders.
Moreno Hofland (23) •  Puncheur
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PR
now
68
67
73
65
74
71
69
62
67
70
73
67
65
max
69
68
76
66
76
72
70
62
68
72
75
68
66
Moreno had a good time at Vesuvio last year and is glad to go back there to complete his training. In 2015 he returns to Gazelle with the ability to be a dangerous outsider in PCT hilly classics.
Kristof Goddaert (28) •  Time-Trialist
Kristof rode some decent TT's in 2013 and, most importantly, he was an important part of the squad that won the only C2 TTT. This result also paved the way for Marco Minnard to win the FBD Éire Tour.
Still, he didn't really fit our philosophy. So when a good offer came in from the ProTour, Gazelle and Goddaert agreed to accept.
Roy Sentjens (34) •  Flandrien
He could've been our third 34 year old Belgian cobbler. But sadly Roy's skills declined so much that we had to let him go.
Matej Mugerli (33) •  Hill support
Matej had to make room for younger hilly riders. He was part of the support squad that helped us to victory many times and we thank him for his great efforts.
In
Maxime Monfort (31) •  Puncheur
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PR
72
72
79
71
76
74
75
60
64
75
77
65
71
We're delighted to be able to welcome one of Belgium's top 10 riders to the team. Monfort is the hilly leader we needed and we're confident he can score many points.
Nick Nuyens (34) •  Flandrien
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PR
77
57
72
65
76
71
71
79
61
68
74
63
65
Aging cobble star Nuyens had a rough 2013 in the PT and has decided to step down a level. In PCT he's one of the stronger cobblers and he should be able to produce some good results.
Gert Steegmans (34) •  Flandrien / Sprinter
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PR
78
56
68
69
77
75
79
75
76
74
71
58
69
Cobblers are best in duo's, so we brought in another 34 year old Belgian. Steegmans should be able to help Nuyens in the finale. He's also our backup plan if the race is not selective and ends in a peloton sprint.
Daniel Oss (27) •  Puncheur / Sprinter
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PR
78
66
74
67
76
75
73
68
74
74
65
68
71
Due to the CT success of Thiago Duarte Nardin, we were looking for a stronger version of him for PCT. Oss is a pretty fast finisher who is not easy to drop.
Part of team Gazelle has been preparing for the upcoming season on a week-long training session in the land of the kangaroo. The riders casually enjoyed the sun and beautiful countryside on their long rides far away from home.
There were some complaints though.
Roomies Pieter Weening and Daniel Oss agreed to talk:
We came here looking forward to a pleasant week of training on long, deserted roads. No noise, no distractions.
But apparently Australia is a very popular pre-season destination; the place was filled with other cyclists! These guys were extremely serious about their training. We mostly just ignored them and stuck to our own relaxed pace.
After also receiving a complaint from Marco Minnard about suddenly being dragged off his bike and onto a podium, management has decided to move next year's training camp to Oxfordshire.
You will train Formolo as puncheur? Then i am even more disappointed i was not able to get him sooner than Gazelle. Pretty strange move that would be, but Gazelle seems to know only one from of training and riding
Anyway, very nice write-up!
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 16-04-2014 06:39
I has him listed as the climbing trainee for sure (exactly as your added option), because he will have that 77hill anyway and that 78climbing could be great, while only advantage of different training would be that sprint kick, where he will have extreme opposition of much better riders like Demare, Kreder, Grosu, Alaphilippe and many others. (also 72sprint or 69 sprint does not matter so much in uphill sprint in my eyes, while those +4 in climbing could be great, with his strong support stats suited for climber....
Of course that is only my opinion and his training is Gazelle's call (till you will sell him to Metinvest)
Mountain sprinter can be great option too, if it fits your plans...
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 16-04-2014 12:12
Marco Minna(a)rd (25) - Puncheur (75k)
Blaž Furdi (27) - Puncheur - potential: 6 / level 4 (95k)
Thiago Duarte Nardin (26) - Explosive puncheur (95k)
Jonas Vangenechten (28) - Flandrien (60k)
Jaco Venter (26) - Puncheur - potential: 6 / level: 3 (50k)
Erdenebayar Daspuntsag (26) - Hilly fighter (50k)
Kévin Lalouette (30) - Allrounder (50k)
Vadim Shaekhov (28) - Allrounder (60k)
Daniel Oss (27) •  Puncheur / Sprinter
Patrick Konrad (23) •  Puncheur / Climber
Roman Senyenov (21) •  Puncheur
Charalampas Kastrantas (23) •  Puncheur
(also 72sprint or 69 sprint does not matter so much in uphill sprint in my eyes, while those +4 in climbing could be great, with his strong support stats suited for climber....
